Spotlight: Referendums to claim attention on Nov. 4 ballot

MURFREESBORO – Voters in November may be facing five questions on the November ballot — four are state constitutional amendments, and voters in Murfreesboro and Smyrna will decide whether to approve sale of wine in grocery stores.

Voters in La Vergne also may decide about wine sales in grocery stores, but the county Election Commission has not yet confirmed all of the signatures on petitions to seek such a referendum. Deadline for confirmation is Aug. 21.

Garnering the most attention in regard to state constitutional amendments are questions about selection of state Supreme Court justices and abortion.

Although ouster campaign contended that the justices were soft on crime and anti-business, the anti-retention drive also promoted election of a Republican attorney general. The state constitution provides that the state Supreme Court selects the state attorney general.

Under the wording of the constitutional amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot, voters will decide whether the General Assembly in the future will have to ratify a governor’s appointments to the Supreme Court.

Currently, the governor appoints justices to the state Supreme Court, and they face retention votes every eight years.

Opponents of this amendment, however, include those who prefer direct election of justices.

The constitutional amendment on abortion cannot reverse the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, but it provides that the state constitution does not authorize abortions and no public funds can go to abortions.

The amendment states: "Nothing in this constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or require the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother."

Supporters of the amendment contend that it again will make the state constitution silent on abortion, since judicial interpretations in the state have provided more access to abortions.

The amendment, according to supporters, would allow the state Legislature to enact common-sense restrictions on abortions.

Amendment opponents, however, argue that such legislative actions could severely restrict, if not, end abortions in the state.

Other amendments would prevent state and local governments from instituting any taxes on payrolls or earned personal income and expand use of lottery funds for charities specifically to veterans organizations.